_{By Mike Romero}

I feel like it was just yesterday that my face was getting rocked the h*ck off by Mortal American Body during Velour’s Summer 2026 Battle of the Bands. But as 2026 nears its end, we all know it’s time to start battling again – so put your dukes up, homies.

Velour’s Winter 2026 Battle of the Bands is taking applications now, giving Utah indie bands a shot at the stage – and a permanent place in a pretty impressive local music hall of fame. Past winners include Imagine Dragons, Neon Trees, The Backseat Lovers, The Aces, Cardinal Bloom, Beeson, local speedsters Dogpaw, recent winners Mortal American Body, and plenty more. See a list of past winners here (we’ve gotta update it soon!).

You don’t need a big following or years of experience to throw your name in for consideration. Bands of all genres and ages are welcome. So if you’ve been waiting for your moment or you’ve been looking to show off some new material, this is a perfect opportunity.

Applications opened Tuesday, October 27. The application period runs through Sunday, November 8 at 11:59 PM. Early submissions are encouraged and may get booking preference, so don’t wait until the last minute to hit send. Apply here.

The competition runs December 7 through December 12. Preliminaries run December 7 through December 11, with one winner from each night being selected to return and perform during the finals on December 12.

Start telling your friends, start tuning up, and good luck! You can follow Velour Live Music Gallery on Instagram here for more updates. If you’ve already forgotten about the submission link: quit slacking. Apply here. Check out “South of You” by Mortal American Body below.